Sick Of Over-Training?

Regular moderate exercise has an immune supportive effect; however, over-training may weaken your immune system. This detrimental effect is called over-training syndrome (OTS).

OTS commonly occurs in athletes who train beyond their body’s ability to recover. As we come into winter, the last thing that you want is to find your performance limited because of recurrent infections. There are nutritional and herbal ingredients that are important for maintaining immune function, and which may help reduce the immune depletion associated with OTS.

Other symptoms of OTS include fatigue, moodiness, decrease in performance, muscle and joint pain, headaches, loss of enthusiasm for your sport and decreased appetite.

Pushing it too far?

To improve your performance you will always have to push yourself. But the key is to only push yourself within reasonable limits and to make sure you are supporting your body with supplements during really intense training periods. Exercising harder and longer without adequate rest and recovery time may decrease your performance. The importance of correct recovery was covered in detail in the Endura-E-News April 2008 edition.

It is interesting to note that intense exertion lasting longer than 90 minutes impairs immune function for up to 72 hours post-exertion. This “open window” of weakened immunity may allow for viruses or bacteria to take a foothold and increase your risk of infection. This risk becomes more relevant for athletes who are training for endurance events and undertaking long training sessions regularly.

Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief

Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief provides a powerful combination of immune enhancing herbs and nutrients to help stimulate the cells of the immune system to seek out and destroy invading “bugs,” thereby working to support healthy immune function, reduce the severity of the symptoms and shorten the duration of infections.

Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief contains potent immune boosting herbs that may reduce the pain and inflammation that accompanies colds and ‘flu’s and help prevent reccurrence of infections. Furthermore, the inclusion of antioxidants in this formula helps off-set the oxidative damage that may be caused by intense exercise.

Individually, the ingredients also offer the following additional benefits:

  • Andrographis has immune enhancing effects and may be useful in preventing colds and may reduce the symptoms of fever and aid in general debility.
  • Siberian Ginseng is renowned for its restorative properties. It has been used to stimulate immune system function and to increase vitality and energy. It has restorative properties, supporting immunity, improving mental and physical performance, and reducing the effects of stress, and is often used for treating exhaustion. It is also useful for improving stamina in times of excessive physical and mental demands, making it ideal for the effects of excessive training.
  • Echinacea is well known for its immune-regulating effects. Numerous clinical trials have found that Echinacea may shorten the duration and severity of colds and other upper respiratory infections. Therefore, Echinacea may help decrease number of infections and reduce the length of colds and ‘flu’s.
  • Zinc is perhaps one of the most important minerals for the immune system. Zinc provides nutritional support for immune function and a zinc deficiency may decrease the body’s ability to properly respond to infections.
  • Vitamin A plays a significant role in the immune system. It is important for maintaining immune function and is recognised as a vital antioxidant.

Stay on track this winter

Monitoring your training program and being careful not to over-train can help reduce your risk of infections during the winter season. However, if you do catch a cold or ‘flu, supplementation with Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief may help to relieve the associated symptoms such as tiredness, sore throats, sleeplessness, headaches and persistent coughs. Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief may also be taken to help prevent you from getting sick in the first place. Just one tablet daily may help reduce your risk of catching a cold or ‘flu this winter.

By providing support to your immune system, Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence Cough Cold Relief may get your performance back on track sooner.